Bernard leaves his mark in just two years

The emotions rang true on both sides at Stroudsburg High School on Monday.

Joe Bernard's resignation as head football coach brings an end, just two years in the making, of what could have been a long relationship.

It was a nice two-year dance, but the music has most definitely been quieted.

"There was just no answer," high school principal Jeff Sodl said. "No one wanted to see him go."

After not working in the classroom because he was furloughed at the end of the 2012 school year, Bernard was forced to find a job.

Was he kicked out? Most definitely not. Was he forced out? Most definitely.

Such is life in many public schools — tough to keep good coaches and even tougher to get them without a teaching job in the district.

Bernard even tried to weather the unemployment storm for a year, collecting unemployment benefits while coaching in the hopes that a teaching or administrative job would open. Nothing did.

On the field his teams thrived, going 19-5 in two seasons, winning two Mountain Valley Conference titles and breaking two major offensive records.

All of Bernard's success on the field did not parlay into a job in the school.

"Those days are over," Sodl said. "In the past, maybe you could slide into something, but that's just not the case anymore."

As the success grew, so did Bernard's love for the community and his players. He watched Robert Bennie set the school's single season mark in total offense with 3,022 yards (1,795 rushing, 1,227 passing).

In 2012, Altarique Mosley ran for a school record 2,120 yards, breaking Artie Owens' mark set in 1971 by 60 yards.

"He brought such a great approach," Sodl said, "like a collegiate approach."

Two things came to Bernard's mind when he talked about his time at Stroudsburg — winning in the Mountain Valley Conference and walking home after a Thanksgiving Day win over East Stroudsburg South.

"Those two things stick out more than anything from things I can remember personally of what I'm proud of," Bernard said. "What I'm most proud of is the kids that I gave the opportunity to go to college."

The former Nazareth High School coached enjoyed the Stroudsburg community. He raved about how fans filled the stadium on Friday nights.

He thoroughly enjoyed winning and admits that he made few friends in the conference. Bernard loved winning — loved preparing to win (nearly seven days a week), loved practice, loved Friday night and beating rival South on Thanksgiving twice.

"I'll never forget the walk back," Bernard said of the win over the Cavaliers in 2011. "When we turned the corner at Main Street and the community support that was lined up and down Main Street that applauded the team coming back — and we've had tremendous community support — just to see the people lined up with video cameras. It's something that the kids will cherish.

"I got back (to the stadium) and said, 'Wow, that was really neat.' It was just really neat to see the community so proud of their team and it made me really proud."